The festive season took a hilarious and dramatic turn for Nollywood actor Charles Okocha, after he received a Christmas gift from billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu. The actor's over-the-top reaction, which he shared in a video on Tuesday, December 24, 2025, has since set social media platforms ablaze with reactions.
The Viral Bank Encounter
In the now-viral Instagram video, Charles Okocha is seen exiting a branch of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), a financial institution chaired by Tony Elumelu. A bank official hands him a brown envelope, which the actor promptly opens. Upon discovering the contents—a $50 gift—his expression shifts dramatically from expectation to stunned disbelief.
The movie star, who got married in 2024, proceeds to his car, places the money on the seat, and begins counting it. Not content with a simple thank you, Okocha launches into a theatrical performance. He erupts in excitement, sprinting towards the main road while repeatedly screaming "Santa Elu!" in reference to the donor. His celebration included jumping around the bank's premises, showcasing the dollar notes to anyone within sight.
From Disbelief to Prophetic Declaration
In a twist of comic uncertainty, Okocha returned to his car to double-check the amount, questioning aloud if receiving only $50 was a joke. However, his tone quickly shifted back to praise. He declared that Tony Elumelu had "come through for him like a prophecy" and professed his love for the businessman.
The actor's dramatic display reached its peak when he approached a bank security guard. Grabbing the man by the shoulder, Okocha excitedly proclaimed that Elumelu had answered his prayers and would answer those of the guard as well. Before driving off, he made intermittent stops to show the dollar notes to fans, even promising to give some away.
Mixed Reactions from the Online Community
The video swiftly garnered thousands of comments, with netizens expressing a wide range of opinions. While many found the actor's antics hilarious, others used the moment to highlight broader economic issues.
User @timmy_sax humorously noted, "Charles wan mad! Santa Elu Money na water." Another comment from @Kosiiiiiiiiiiii read, "So na my service charge this man dey spend like this."
However, the gesture also sparked more critical reflections. User @phychem11 shared, "Same UBA wey no dey pay my guy well and refused to make him a permanent staff." Similarly, @functionguyy pointed out, "And there are UBA staffs working 12hrs daily that don't earn 10% of this amount annually."
Some questioned the necessity of the gift to a celebrity. @TWEETORACLE commented, "That’s really nice of him but doling out N72M to Charles Okocha who by all accounts isn’t lacking in money seems to me a bit of excess... that money could mean a whole lot to a lot of less privileged homes." It's important to clarify here that $50 is approximately 72,000 Naira, not 72 million Naira as the comment might suggest.
Others, like @obinique, speculated the notes might be "fake dollar props," adding another layer of intrigue to the online discussion.
This incident follows a previous report where Charles Okocha flaunted wads of Naira notes online after fellow musician Portable called him out over an alleged debt, indicating the actor is no stranger to creating buzz on social media.
